Basics of Government · SHS1 Government

Lesson notes

Learning Objectives

Indicator: 1.1.1.LI.2 - Analyse basic concepts and principles of government.

By the end of the lesson, learners can:

Define the concepts of state, power, authority, legitimacy, and constitution, and distinguish between them using relevant examples.
Explain the principles of rule of law, participation, inclusion, consensus building, equality, and equity, and justify why each matters in governance.
Analyse the relationship between power, authority, and legitimacy, showing how each supports or undermines the others in a given scenario.
Evaluate a real or hypothetical governance situation and identify which concepts and principles are being upheld or violated, giving reasons for their judgement.

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Curriculum details

Strand: Government and Development (Strand 1)
Sub-strand: Basics of Government (1.1)
Content standard: 1.1.1.CS.1 - Demonstrate understanding of the meanings, basic concepts, principles, and importance of government. 1.1.1.LO.1 Evaluate the meanings, concepts, principles of government and importance of government.
Indicator: 1.1.1.LI.2 - Analyse basic concepts and principles of government.
Suggested placement: Semester 1, Week 2 (Week 2 of the year)
Our suggestion, laid out in curriculum order across three terms of twelve weeks. NaCCA does not fix the week, so follow your school's scheme of learning.
Source document note: The official curriculum document has a fault in this entry, so the curriculum text above is transcribed exactly as printed:

indicator text - this document prints 117 of its 144 curriculum codes malformed, nearly always by dropping the separator before the final digit - this indicator is printed "1.1.1.LI2" and its assessment "1.1.1AS2". Four other shapes occur: a missing separator before the type token too ("2.1.1CS1"), a doubled separator ("3..2.1AS2"), the digit 1 for the I of LI ("2.3.1.L11"), and LI printed as a bare L ("3.2.1L4"). Every code in these CSVs is normalised to the n.n.n.TYPE.n form the database and validate.py require; each printed form with its page is tabulated in priv/scaffold/REPORT-shs-government.md. Rows whose code is ambiguous or contradicts its printed section carry their own marker.
Curriculum reference: NaCCA curriculum document, p. 25

Exemplars (from the NaCCA curriculum)

Talk for Learning: Through question-and-answer session, discuss the basic concepts and principles of government while exhibiting values of confidence, courage, and tolerance.
Concepts: State, power, authority, legitimacy, feminism, development, constitution and constitutionalism etc.
Principles: Rule of law, participation, Inclusion, consensus building, equality, and equity etc.
Teaching and Learning Resources:
- Government Curriculum
- NaCCA Approved textbooks on government
- e-library resources
Assessment (1.1.1.AS.2). The document marks these depth-of-knowledge levels for this indicator: Level 3 Strategic reasoning; Level 4 Extended critical thinking and reasoning.